Africa

WHELAN: MOVES TO OUTLAW DANGEROUS HENNA TATTOOS
Temporary with Toxic Inks Tattoos May Cause Scarring, Permanent Injuries

(TRENTON) - Assemblyman Jim Whelan today announced the introduction of legislation that would make it unlawful for body art studios to apply "henna" tattoos containing para-phelylendiamine (PPD), a chemical that can cause scarring and other disfiguring skin injuries.

Five of New Jersey's six Democratic Congressmen are in line for a Subcommittee Chairmanship if their party wins control of the U.S. House of Representatives in November:

Rob Andrews: Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Employer/Employee Relations
Frank Pallone: Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife and Oceans
Bill Pascrell: Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Science and Technology
Donald Payne: International Relations Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations
Rush Holt: Intelligence Subcommittee on Intelligence Policy

The sixth Democrat is Steven Rothman, who serves on the powerful House Appropriations Committee.

Seniority does not necessarily determine Subcommittee Chairmanships. For example, Pallone also has considerable seniority on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and could could compete for a Subcommittee Chairmanship there.

A new radio advertisement for Tom Kean Jr.'s U.S. Senate race features the endorsement of Larry Giancola, a Hudson County Democrat. Giancola urges other Democrats to join him in abandoning Bob Menendez. But it doesn't seem like Giancola, despite his party registration, is the kind of guy who usually votes for Democratic candidates.

A series of Letters to the Editor he has written for The Record show Giancola as a fairly conservative fellow; during the 1989 gubernatorial campaign, he wrote: "I would like to comment on your Aug. 28 editorial headlined, '(Jim) Courter's ugly swipe at gays.' In it, you say that recent research suggests that biological conditions that exist before birth may be largely responsible for determining whether a person is homosexual or not. I disagree with you on this and so does the New Testament. The Bible calls homosexuality sin."

In 2005, he wrote: "How easy it is for liberals to tell us how to spend our money. These same people love to spend everyone else's money but their own. The truth is most liberals treat themselves rather well and are more likely spreading poverty through their policies than anything else. The United States contributes far more money to Africa than any other country, and what does it have to show for it? Africa today is no better off than it was 10 or 20 years ago. The miracle of turning Rhodesia into Zimbabwe has resulted in starvation. I challenge Bill McKibben's assertion that 18 percent of American children live in poverty. Our poor possess more designer jeans, sneakers, stereos and cellphones than many in the middle class of other countries."

Giancola wrote in 2002: "Regarding recent legislation proposed by Assemblyman Neil M. Cohen, D-Union, to stop the rash of sexual abuse cases in churches, specifically the Catholic Church ... Cohen proposes elimination of a limitation on jury awards that result from lawsuits generated by such abuse. His concern seems not so much for the victims of this abuse as to silence the church and its moral teachings. Where was Cohen's concern when President Bill Clinton was having sex with a girl younger than half his age? Where was his outrage, and why didn't he publicly support the president's impeachment? Besides intimidating churches, this bill also enriches the lawyer lobby. Trial and malpractice lawyers are the best friends and contributors the Democratic Party ever had. Cohen would also lead us to believe that there is now no punishment for those convicted of such abuse, and that the church today gets off scot-free. That simply is not true. There is no immunity from prosecution for any priest, rabbi, or any other type of clergy convicted for that behavior."

O'TOOLE PRAISES ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE FOR PRESCHOOL THEFT INVESTIGATION AND INDICTMENTS

HOPES IT IS THE FIRST IN A STRING OF INDICTMENTS AND CONVICTIONS ON CORRUPTION CHARGES